By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Eight teams are left standing in the FIBA World Cup and with one more win, four of them will get to the medal round. Here’s where the men separate themselves from the boys and two big games are coming up in a few hours, as Lithuania faces Turkey and Team USA plays Slovenia.
Barcelona: Lithuania – Turkey (17.00)
Lithuania has the chance to fulfill its potential, despite missing one of its best players, injured Mantas Kalnietis. So far the key for coach Jonas Kazlauskas team is its defense and its front line and here start the similarities with Turkey. The team of coach Ataman has found ways to survive so far in the tournament (as you can read and see here) and that always started from defense. Turkey seems capable of shutting down its opponents and achieving huge came backs after a typical bad start in the games. However it’s a question if Omer Asik and Oguz Savas can stop the superb front line of the Lithuanians which includes Valanciunas, Motiejunas and the Lavrinovich brothers. It would be a very interesting game and possibly a typical European half court, low scoring affair.
Barcelona: Team USA – Slovenia (21.00)
Arguably Slovenia is the most talented opponent of the Americans so far. Still, Team USA is expected to have an easy task. There’s a big quality gap and the problem for Slovenia is that the strength of coach Jure Zdovc’ team is the back court of the Dragic brothers. The American roster is loaded with back court stars which will not be intimidated in any way by Goran Dragic and Slovenia doesn’t have the players to exploit the only visible issue of the Americans, their lack of big bodies and post defense. Expect this game to be the opposite of Turkey vs Lithuania, a high scoring affair with Team USA of course setting the tempo.